Tag: habits

Every day we are naturally a part of stories revealing the best or worst skills. Activities, including storytelling, share which skill sharpened in lieu of another. Do you know which skills make life harder for you? When we experience unhappiness, frequent illness or other life hardening conditions we are likely sharpening the culprits. cer] When in doubt, probably a quick measure could be Google or peer opinions. Google's loyalties are your search history. Ask a peer? Might be a white lie! More so, what if they are...WRONG? Christine Porath studied nearly 20,000 employees and 54% said they don't get regular respect from their leaders. Which pipeline do you believe is the most genuine resource here: the leader, the employees, or the researcher? Pick a skill that's not your healthiest. On a scale from 1 (least) to 10 (most) where does it…

Managing an effective multigenerational workforce requires tolerance and transformative thinking. Our generation membership is a contextual factor that affects our communication and work styles, and also our values and perceptions. The Doing, Being, Becoming Model from occupational therapy offers an effective managerial approach. This model establishes a collaborative work environment that harnesses the strengths of each generation. Doing is observable. The act of doing includes a person's work ethic, work style, habits and routines. An especially relevant 'doing' action is communication. Baby Boomers tend to prefer face-to-face and telephone chatter, Generation Xers generally favor email and texting, and Millennials trend towards texts and instant messaging. When we observe others doing we have the opportunity to learn as well as judge our colleagues. So, at its best, understanding the doing of others can:…

A multi-generational workplace is naturally diverse with good and maybe not-so-good behaviors. Organizations that unify the people, environment, and brand with their mission and vision provide behavioral direction. Where clarity exists there's also a notion of rewarding conditions. Consequently, constancy of circumstances lead affective working conditions. Jocelyn Goldfein along with her executive team became haunted by experiencing this fact. They learned the valuable elements of how to be an effective multigenerational workforce. Furthermore, they united to become consistent in communication and surroundings because they desire rewarding work conditions. A determinant of how successful business will be is how successful each employee is. Following quarterly polls of 90,000 Americans, researchers conclude multi-generations want the same things: interesting work, opportunities to be rewarded and excel. The resulted feelings are the change agents, hence what motivates people in meaningful,…

Today there is an absorbent amount of information readily available for whatever issue is at hand. People are becoming more specialized and willingly ready or already sharing what they know. Since childhood, I look to the trees for continuity. Last year I heard Ed Catmul say "art is about seeing," as he explained how he created a culture without a power structure to eliminate barriers to truth. "You have to go (through failure) to get something you don't know." Trees communicate design intelligence. We see their uniqueness, alive or rotted, and hear them when it's windy. They morph into numerous shapes that range from solid to thin forms. Trees give and support my ability to be creative. Often their waste is the expense for my ideas to become tangible. Trees resemble their…

Severe future health issues may occur if there pain or numbness is presently ignored in the hand, arm, leg or foot. Temporary pain remedies may cause transference of the core issue. Listed below are three safe remedies to stop persisting pain. Seek multiple opinions with an interdisciplinary team. A variety of specialized professionals provide alternative perspectives that may be missed with one. The value of a team approach reduces error. A team may include a chiropractor, occupational therapist, ergonomist, physical therapist, doctor, and massage therapist. Seek referrals and weigh out opinions with a trusted source. Personally log daily activities and behaviors over a 3 to 6 weeks. Record keeping assists to manage budget and time. Awareness of body responses through attention to cause and effect may reduce costly appointments, medications, and products…

It's the start of one of those Monday's that requires concerted effort to do things. There's the smell of coffee lingering mixed with the aroma of fresh bagels beside the buffet of several cream cheeses. Noise levels heighten as peers huddle to collaborate. The smartphone chimes with each email and text message. Recently we did an experiment with octane types used to fuel an SUV. Every vehicle manufacturer identifies what octane is optimal for vehicle performance. The SUV's manufacturer recommended 91 octane. With 89 Octane the fuel burned faster then what 93 provided. The recommended premium octane proved to save in gas efficiency at four more miles per gallon. Certain body fuels have greater performance efficiency. Our body fuels on fiber, protein, fat, physical activity, and sleep but it also…

With setting goals a timeline and deadline is created. Estimating time accurately is a skill that begins with childhood activities including board games and getting ready for school. It may improve or weaken depending on the practice how frequently it's practiced. Skills improve with practice. The ability to make accurate estimates is closely tied to the ability to understand and solve problems. Learning to approximate activity lengths prepares for future goal setting. Poor time estimation weakens confidence because short and long-term goals are repeatedly missed. The mind processes stories with better recall then it does with time estimation. Estimating measurements is most often a mathematical skill, which improves with practice. Illusions often stand in the way. Stories may offer an illusion of time that exaggerates the effect of changing circumstances on future performance.…

In the past there were few classrooms or households teaching exactly what a healthy relationship is. Parents may model valuable aspects but don't physically sit down with their children as teachers of Relationships 101. A healthy relationship from 'the inside out' identifies what communication can become. Healthy relationships begin with an honest self assessment. It requires being prepared for a life-long journey of education. It is effortful work, time and awareness to identify then replace distorted information that the mind believes as truth. There are many layers to replacing distorted thinking. Author and professor Benjamin K. Bergen explains in Louder than Words that we simulate experiences, actions and performances in our mind through a scientifically proven process called embodied simulation. "Meaning, according to the embodied simulation hypothesis, isn’t just abstract mental symbols; it’s…

Occupational therapy practitioners are found in a variety of industries outside of health care, including automotive, architecture and non-profit sectors. Jim Burns is a major in the U.S. Army as well as chief of O.T. at Evans Army Community Hospital in Fort Carson, Colorado. He quoted Max Depree to support his opinion of what the key aspect of leadership is: selfless service. "The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality; the last is to say ‘Thank you.’ In between the two, the leader must become a servant." Burns integrates an abridged version of the U.S. Army's leadership development philosophy in his philosophy of these seven values: Discipline, Motivation, Altruism, Physical Fitness, Continuing Education, Creativity, and being Respectful. Values emphasize behavior patterns, goal setting, and communication. Each requires an internal force or the will…

For many working people, staring at a computer for several hours is the norm in the workplace. That means, hours of screen time not including late night television binges, texts to friends, or surfing the net for recipes. Some side effects of all this time spent with our eyes on screens include: eye strain, headaches, or vision changes. If continued long term it may lead to health conditions type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality. Screen time usage strategies: Meet in an environment that supports active listening in place of texting; be certain all screens are at least 20-40 inches away; invest in anti-glare screens; observe routines to identify if a screen is even necessary; use an app, like Moment, to track your phone usage; take eye breaks...walk away from your screen for…

While on a laidback visit with family in Delaware, I came to a hard realization. Something was not working. I was losing items left and right. I was losing things like my jacket, the dog dish, and my glasses. It was a wakeup call. I became aware things needed to change because I knew it was my anxiety creeping in. Slowly, I put the pieces together to try and wrap my head around this. You would’ve thought that would be obvious after being on my sixth pair of sunglasses and looking at a jewelry box filled with missing earrings. However, some lessons take longer to learn than others. Keeping track of things can be a full time job. Luckily, I surround myself with very observant people and a boyfriend who always checks the couch cushion…

Gestalt isn't a regularly used term. Out WholeBeSM method repeatedly engages design sensibility to enable stress management. The following definitions explain why gestalt is so important and meaningful in your everyday life. The universal root + definition of Gestalt GERMAN | gestalt {form, shape} In 1920, German psychologists used this term when describing something that is greater or different than the sum of it's parts. Something that is unexplainable through depiction of it's parts. Unified in physical, psychological or symbolic elements to create a whole Charlotte Bunch once said, "Feminism is an entire world view or gestalt, not just a laundry list of women's issues." Artists and designers trigger "gestalt sightings" of something that isn't finished. However, your mind still connects it. An example is: conn_ct_d Your mind fills in the blanks. Our mind identifies…

Integrity is used to describe a person, place or thing. The WholebeSM process teaches integrity to act as a catalyst to design sensibility. The universal root + definition of Integrity LATIN | integer {intact} being morally upright the state of unity consistent in principal Zig Ziglar said, With integrity you have nothing to fear, nothing to hide. With integrity you will do the right thing, so you will have no guilt." Integrity in our daily life At some point in our lives we are tested. In these moments our integrity is measured. Integrity in our daily lives can be offensive to others. Examples of this are seen when activists stand by their principal, or artists remain sincere to their mission and are shunned. Our actions are based on our morals and determine our internal integrity.

The word "loyalty" has deep roots. "Loyalty in life" involves perception and emotion. It's similar to allegiance and includes a sense of duty. At times our behavior isn't loyal to our values. Like snapping at someone you love because you are sleep deprived or hungry. This is an example of how loyalty can waver due to poor self-regulation. Sleep is one of the first things to go as a result of job deadlines, travel or family obligations. Anxiety becomes the antagonist to lack of loyalty! GIG Design's WholeBeSM process recognizes the following six core aspects: Physical Occupational Intellectual Spiritual Social Emotional The first step is to recognize your self-regulation issues. Loyalty in life directly affects your health, your relationships, and your success. Design Sensibility is taught with our WholeBeSM Toolkits.…

While driving down I-90 with the music low, I took in everything new. Then I watched the yellow line patterns and the steady row of trucks chugging along. It went from feeling fresh to quickly becoming monotonous. I grew eager to just be home. In that moment, I felt for those traveling as part of daily life - whether long trips on the road, maybe flying or just a timely commute. Over the past two years this has been the norm for my fiancé. Fortunately, he handles this well because he connects quickly with new people and takes time to explore new places. Upon returning home, people often ask about stories from his travels and new experiences. More often than not in relationships in which one travels, other people tend to overlook…

As I was whistling-while-I worked today, an alarming thought gave me pause: could I survive sitting eight hours at a desk? Today was a good day because I didn't sit. I accomplished all of my things-to-do from my list of the things I love-to-do, moving about creatively and solving problems. Without movement, interaction, and creative thinking I lose energy and interest. Pamela Crooke at social thinking recently shared this about what my brain might weigh-in on this matter: Our brains are pretty resistant when it comes to changing something we’ve done for awhile or something we find pleasurable. In fact, a professor from Stanford recently published a book on willpower and describes the brain as something that operates on the levels of “I will”, “I won’t”, and “I want” (McGonigal, 2012). If…

When I overlooked health to discover the joy of smoking there was an immediate bond. Not only did I have no desire to quit but it was a behavior that integrated into every one of my day-to-day functions. Habits may be useful, dominating, or impoverished. They may also interfere with performance in areas of occupation.* To support smoking I would dwell or create environments for it. Specific products suited for the behaviors of smoking were also in my surroundings. And that exceeds just ashtrays. I could smoke anywhere but the ideal experiences were in the comfort of it's suited intention: to distress, to relax, to problem-solve. A space, plus its surroundings - people included - supported my performance needs of smoking and anxiety. Alternatively to smoking and anxiety are those healthy-habit seeking reasons…

This last Sunday I went to a yoga class filled with a variety of people. Regardless of where you are at in life, the instructor gave the most simple and wholesome advice: know your body. It’s by knowing where you are strongest, where you have ached in the past, how you sleep every night, what your job tasks require, where your mind wanders. By knowing yourself, recognizing and being aware, we are able to evaluate and eventually bring changes. This leads me to my right shoulder. Over the past… 10 years… I have had on and off pain at my shoulder which has affected my posture and ability to walk long distances before experiencing pain. I know this of myself and at times I appreciate it and make changes and…

A work day with little movement or sitting at the desk will cause musculoskeletal disorders and heart conditions. The misconception is movement has to be extreme in order to reduce the onset of poor health. For example, standing verses sitting or speed-walking verses strolling. Below are posture facts and tips to position your body away from the onset of diseases and disorders. Sitting | After 15 minute maximum change position. Sitting habits may be with a leg crossed over the other, one leg's foot tucked under the opposite buttock, or both feet between our buttocks and our seat. With repetition over an extended period of time these positions will cause joint hypermobility, weakening the hip, knee and ankle ligaments. Hip or knee replacements are due to weakness in the joint. Sit with…

Once I striped away the spite from a new, yet tedious commute to my weekday routine the challenge was to plan carefully - given traffic, traffic cones and added coffee stops along my route. Yes, some days it is plural. Temporary living conditions includes a culture where long commutes are the norm rather than the exception. I find this unfortunate. Getting my brain relaxed about the commute each day helps sustain energy. With every sunrise I start anew and there is no cookie cutter answer. Although there are creative ways to invest in a joyful day with a dreaded commute on the horizon. Here are six: NPRs Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me! quizzes contestants on weekly news. Hilarious! Ask Me Another shares Puzzles & word games, including limericks. I heart NPR. Listen…

Adjusting to work conditions as a telecommuter has its challenges. Good fortune may bring a flat surface wide enough to support a laptop. Typically, its propped across the legs with occasional havoc if they're crossed. The back bumper of a car may become a chair. A work surface may be the cost of a warm beverage. Sometimes the price jacks-up when there's the unfortunate parking ticket. Of course, there is that occasional back corner desk that costs musty smells from trash-worthy office furnishings. A spirited stress-less performance while on the road depends on adaption. This doesn't mean to desensitize postural or mental supremacy. These costs become epidemic to musculoskeletal disorders to the spine or hips or suppressive anxiety beatings. The occasional is an exception but retirement may span into later years if hospital bills or…

A good friend of mine once asked if I was a night owl or a morning lark. This reference to my energy patterns was certainly thought provoking. After talking with many people – I realized how many people regard being a morning or evening person as part of their identity. Lark verses night owl identities significantly results cultural meaning. Essentially, this relational category helps us gravitate towards specific relationships and accomplishments. My energy bursts seem to be in the morning, so one may say I'm a Lark. Sometimes I like to get myself organized and complete all essential tasks (laundry, cleaning, e-mails, workout) that expend a lot of physical or mental energy in this time frame. Evenings are always more geared to the quieter things I enjoy, including going for…

Over the past few longer and sunnier days, I've found myself wanting to move more. I seek being outside walking around instead of hibernating. This sense of longing certainly comes and goes throughout the year - not due to a sports injury but instead due to my own lack of planning (around weather changes, ever changing schedule, not leaving gym clothes out, etc.) Over the past few years I have learned to be patient with myself during those times I am not exercising regularly and instead focus on what does work. Focusing on phrases such as "I am willing/open to change" help to make this feeling turn into a thought then into a habitual action. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults need roughly 2.5 hours a…

Smoking isn't healthy but it kept me sane. It was a deadly habit but it helped me thrive professionally, socially and oddly enough, athletically. I loved to smoke and didn't attempt to quit until the day I stopped 'cold turkey'. The miracle in this was I lost the urge to smoke but I gained a body that was unable to cope with stress. What I did: smoke to cope. Our hormones are what regulates stress. Everyone doesn't have the same hormone secretion so our level of what is stressful can vary. This is significant to how an individual will react within the fight-or-flight response. How to quit smoking is similar to unravelling a ball of yarn from a neatly organized ball. My late teens, twenties then just into my thirties were…

Creative ideas are secured to become authentic solutions when desire meets success. Remarkable, successful outcomes are tangible. Being calm during work frenzy is emotionally tangible. Instantly reducing costly health issues is cash profitable - tangible. Occupational therapy is a profession that creates experts to guide individuals actively seeking the most magnificent outcomes in life. Individuals, populations or organizations have benefited from our services for over 200 years. Here's how: Occupational therapists deliver occupational performance. This ability to act or do an activity within a life transaction, context and activity profits two ways: Improvement or when limitations in performance is present; Enhancement or when performance limitation isn't present. We focus on adaption for those desiring to change responses to occupational (as in occupational performance) challenges. Modifying tasks, products and environments is our speciality. Health and…

I have a confession. I slouch when I use the computer. The longer I'm on the computer, the "slouchier" I get. It's bad. I know. Admitting the problem is half the battle. Alot of people use computers for work and/or leisure. It's practically a requirement for alot of jobs and for students. Though this instrumental activity of daily living (computer use) is also so common, we often dismiss the fundamentals of computer use. Forget the technical side of it. We are not talking about how good you're with excel or how savvy you are with social media. Alot of computer classes may teach about computer use, but they rarely talk about posture and positioning of equipment. Lets focus on body alignment and posture. These four resourceful questions liberate both mind and body before diving into each day of work: Are you slouching,…

It seems there are times in the year that just seem chaotic. It can be an increased momentum within your personal life, a sudden heavy load professionally or certain once-in-a-lifetime events. Wedding season, anyone? Planning comes naturally to some. I grew up in a family where a little bound book documented everyone’s life. We all knew where we needed to be if we saw the initial to our first name within the family planner. But certainly this may not be genetic or even learned for some of us. Many people plan to prevent, such as preventing bankruptcy during retirement or even preventing an empty fridge by stopping at the grocery store at the end of the work day. Often overlooked is planning to take care of ourselves - whether through…

Growing up I always remember my mother saying “Stand up straight!” or “Sit up!” I certainly always tried to be conscious of this – especially since I only reached a maximum of only 5’ 4”. My sister who hit an early growth spurt was a little more defiant. She hunched, slouched and bent over to be the height of her friends in photos and to meet classmates eye-to-eye. Now that wisdom has set in, I understand my posture will energize, add grace, and ease my aging process. Posture portrays a lot. Postures often are circumstantial. Playing with kids versus meeting a new business partner secures a difference. Centering yourself during meditation is genuine posturing. Physical body appearance may portray confidence, a state of relaxation and a certain amount of poise.…

The American Occupational Therapy Association dedicated an entire issue to sleep. Rightfully so, it usually takes up a third of our day, if you're lucky. Within the article, it is cited that 10-15% of Americans suffer from chronic insomnia and 5% suffer from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Those statistics are alarming - there are a lot of sleep-deprived people driving, working and attempting to function in everyday life. Certainly good habits around sleep are important but sometimes that is easier said than done. Sleep Basics Make sure the bedroom is a restful place. Have inviting comfortable linens, a heavy blanket, your favorite pillows. Avoid stimulants or exercising 2 hours before bed. But do be sure to include exercise daily to help establish an appropriate sleep rhythm. Establish a consistent nighttime routine and…

A good friend of mine called me to recite her new health goals. As suspected, they were the the same ones I've heard over the past few years: lose weight, save more, be nicer to her boyfriend. I completely support her in all of these but I had to wonder, why is it that we (certainly myself included!) focus intently on the same things and seemingly end up right where we started? Life is filled with several natural new beginnings. Feelings of renewal and focus, a chance to start anew and have a sense of a fresh clean slate occur often. We are creatures of habit. Many of the things we are interested in changing are engrained within our environment we surround ourselves in. What happens around us becomes a…

The day began with a mess of disorganization. Our team was out of synch and it cost valuable time. Every hour that morning another issue arose. The climax was financial catastrophe! This stress lead the team to emotional behaviors which created a different kind of work. Internal body regulating and mind work. The challenge was to remain calm through it all. Being overwhelmed with stressful feelings causes confusion. Emotions are a vital part of us to sort through problem-solving. Suffering rears emotions from childhood experiences then initiates personal boundaries - healthy or unhealthy. Our primal instinct is to act for safety in seeking feelings of comfort. Feelings are stimulated by our senses. Our behavior is the reaction. Often people express a reaction by being "full of" an overwhelming feeling. "I'm full of excitement!"…

It is that season when there is always something baking in the oven or a tea kettle boiling for tea or cocoa. Family mealtimes are emphasized and social gatherings are regularly scheduled. The work offices are stocked up with cookies or treats in shining, foil wrappers. Holiday treats and celebrations bring a sense of community, nurture our bodies and feed our soul. But what about those who have difficulties or disordered eating habits? The increase in food can be a trigger or stir up anxieties. Recently, I found out a person very close to me was having such difficulties. She reported always having such emotional pain followed by physical pain of overeating and then ultimately this effected her self-worth. This was difficult to discuss and shows bravery on her part.…

She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails. -ELIZABETH EDWARDS Spreading newspapers and pulling out handfuls of goopy seeds are the welcomed precursors to carving a pumpkin. Next, time will be spent together at a large table, calling dibs on a favored leg or wing to eat while simultaneously someone slowly carves the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. The next two months holds such focus on others: giving presents, cooking and creating New Year’s resolutions to better ourselves, the community and the organizations we believe in. Carving time in our schedules for ourselves quickly goes by the wayside. It is easy to schedule a massage or a hair appointment and denote that time as “me time.” Often it is spread out,…

All this social media talk about sleep. Is it overrated? Sleep is an occupation that directly supports its counterpart occupations including work, self-care, participation, education, and interdependent relationships. The inability to sleep over an average of 7.5 hours every night directly creates a counterforce to focusing, problem-solving, and carrying-out actions in team-work, competitiveness, and productivity. Will-power weakens enabling absences and illness caused from poor hygiene and body care. The less or more sleep the steeper the hill to being productive or to be at your best performance (Hublin et al 2013). To get to a lifestyle of aging gracefully and maintaining daily performance ask these questions: Is proficient self-care present? Is stress being burrowed by unhealthy behaviors (over-eating, laziness, blaming others)? Is it difficult to fall asleep most nights? What…

What is sensory regulation and why is health and design related to it? Design thinking through a health lens improves sensory knowledge and design sensibility. Think of those drinking excessive amounts of coffee or caffeinated beverages. Or those with unusual sleeping habits. Perhaps, extreme energy levels - all time high or extreme lows. These examples touch on a lengthy list of symptoms that signals warning. The brain's response to sensations seeks its idea of appropriate and efficient. This may not agree with societal or desired standards. Sensory regulation is the way the brain and nervous system manages sensations. These sensations return as behaviors. Our sense reaction triggers the nervous system to sends millions of recorded and encoded messages to the brain, Touch, smell, taste, vision, hearing, vestibular, proprioceptive, interoceptive systems…